IHS Markit smartphone research is different. We deliver comprehensive smartphone data, down to specific models and component categories, providing you with the detailed insight and data you need on the rapidly evolving global smartphone industry.

In-depth analysis and historic data and market forecasts for the smartphone market globally and by country. Smartphone Intelligence Service - Premium delivers detailed data on smartphone shipments by OEM as well the active installed base of smartphones by feature, down to model level. The reports in this service provide actionable recommendations based on these unique data sets.

Also included are insights and analysis on topics such as augmented/mixed reality (AR/VR/MR), 5G, gigabit LTE, machine learning and AI in smartphones, and voice assistants.

The three major carriers in Korea, SK Telecom, Korea Telecom and LG U+. officially started 5G service at mid-night of 3 April. In the US, Verizon followed suit - also on 3 April.
The Korean roll out is much broader than Verizon's in the US, in terms of coverage, device support and data plan options.

Samsung is packing its main innovative push into the cameras of its latest flagship Galaxy S devices. With the new super slow motion video capture, Samsung has improved on previous industry attempts to commercialize this feature. The Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus are strong handset designs which evolve from 2017’s excellent S8. They are markedly different in camera quality and display size from the two to three year old smartphones potential customers own now which should boost upgrades. However, consumers may delay purchase because of rising flagship prices.

The Galaxy Note 8 demonstrates Samsung’s confidence in its design expertise because of the strong similarities between the Note 8 and the Galaxy S8 and S8+. Samsung’s decision to launch the Note across all regions means the Note 8 should be the most successful Note smartphone for at least three years. IHS Markit expects the Note 8 Bill of Materials (BOM) cost will exceed those of all previous generations of Note models from Samsung.

The S8 and S8+ are visibly differentiated smartphones because of their large Samsung displays, tiny bezels, and fast chipsets which all play to Samsung group’s competitive strengths. Samsung’s initial Bixby AI implementation falls short of its goal of being a comprehensive AI assistant because of weak app integration and limited voice compatibility. Provided Samsung can manufacture sufficient volumes of S8 and S8 + smartphones, and has no new reliability issues, the S8 will be a success for Samsung. The strong industrial design will support the Samsung brand and provide a foundation for Samsung’s ecosystem ambitions with VR, Bixby AI, and enterprise offerings.

Samsung announced its Q1'16 earnings results today, 50.94 trillion KRW revenue and 8.14 trillion KRW operating profit which makes 16.0% operating margin rate. The handset business of Samsung has been showing constant growth in unit volumes. However, both revenue and operating profit have declined. Mobile division which includes handset business unit recorded 26.07 trillion KRW in revenue. Operating profit of IM(IT and Mobile) group recorded 4.32 trillion KRW, which makes 16.3% operating margin. This is the highest operating margin since Q3’14.

At MWC 2016, the major leading smartphone makers launched new flagship smartphones as well as a new range of VR 360 degree smart accessory cameras. Including, Samsung's Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge; Xiaomi Mi5; and notably LG's G5 with a modular expansion capability; and Alcatel's Idol 4S which is bundled with a VR headset .

IHS believes LG must take radical steps such as these to make its smartphone business stand out, because unless LG succeeds with the G5, VR camera and smart accessories, on LG's old trajectory IHS forecasted LG's smartphone shipments would decline 3% in 2016. Key to LG's differentiation will be its modular smartphone hardware, not VR. No other current smartphone maker has anything similar. Importantly, the modular smart accessories offer LG ways to generate profits adjacent to the commoditizing smartphone market.

Gear 360 is a marketing vehicle for the Galaxy S7, as well as Samsung's Gear VR headset. IHS expects Samsung smartphones will outsell the Gear 360 by over one thousand times this year. In a mature smartphone market, smartphone makers compete with their older selves to drive consumers to upgrade their existing smartphones.

Samsung grew revenue and profit in Q3 2015 on the back of improving mid and low end smartphone shipments. M Business unit which includes smartphone business posted 26.61 trillion Korean won (KRW) revenue in Q3'15. This is up 8% YoY and 2% QoQ. Operating profit was 2.4 trillion KRW, which reflects 9% of margin rate.

Samsung launched two new flagship smartphones, the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge+. While these releases were anticipated, Samsung is launching ahead of schedule to try to maximise its momentum before Apple launches new iPhones in late September. The cost for this early release appears to be a staggered regional launch. Samsung also finally launched its payment service which it initially announced in February 2015.

What are the key technologies and the differences in the Asian pay TV market? This presentation demonstrates the differences between developed and developing pay TV markets by exploring the future of pay TV in Asia. Operators, OTT providers and content owners are increasingly looking towards key technologies like UHD, multicast IP transmission and LTE video, edge caching and predictive analytics and content recommendation in order to drive video consumption as the number of connected devices in the region grows.

LTE broadcast has garnered interest from operators and vendors alike in 2014. 19 operators in 13 countries have already trialled it, with 1 operator already operating a service. This reports looks at the benefits of LTE broadcast and the applications it can be used for.

Samsung is finally launching a smartphone powered by its homemade operating system, Tizen. Samsung is launching the Z1 exclusively in India. Unusually for an OS launch product, the Z1 does not feature high-end hardware to show off the new software. Despite the launch, IHS does not believe that Tizen will make a significant impact on the smartphone market. It is much more likely that Tizen's impact will be felt in the wearables market.